Brick-handling machine.



W. H. FRANCIS.

BRICK HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00'1'.21, 190a. RENEWED M0. 22, 1910.

999,774, Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

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W-. H. FRANCIS.

BRICK HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOK FILED 0M. 21, 1908. RENEWED DEC. 22, 1910.

999,774. Patented Aug. 8,1911.

GILUMBIA PLANOORAPH 60-, WASHINGTON, D. C.

- 3 SHEETS-SHEB'! 2. 4

W. H. FRANCIS.

BRICK HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION NLRB 001'. 21, 1903. nmmwm; DBO. 22, 1910. 999,774, PatentedAug. 8, 191 1.

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ATTORMS I COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0" WASHINGTON. D. C.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE:

WILLIAM H. FRANCIS, OF GHEBRYVALE, KANSAS.

BRICK-HANDLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 21, 1908, Serial No. 458,781. Renewed December22, 1910. Serial No. 598,821.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM H. FRANCIS, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Cherryvale, in the county of Montgomery andState of Kansas, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inBrick-Handling Machines, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to a machine for handling bricks, saidmachine belonging to the general class wherein a lifting mechanism isemployed for engaging at the base thereof a pile of bricks stacked up inaccordance with a pre-arranged order. Examples of machines of thisgeneral class are seen in my former Letters Patent on brick handlingmachine, No. 859,4.15, dated July 9, 1907, and the Letters Patentgranted to myself and Charles Francis for a brick handling machine, No.859,586, dated June 9, 1908. The method which is performed by themechanism in both of these patents, and which is itself covered in myformer Letters Patent No. 874,582, dated December 21, 1907, relates tothe handling of brick in bulk so that they may be transported to anyother point without breaking the bulk. According to this-method thebricks are stacked up with uniform spaces between the bricks of thebasic layer so as to allow the lifting arms of the machine to enterthese spaces to carry the superposed load, while the members of thebasic layer are picked up and carried along with the superincumbent massby means of the lateral gripping action of clamping devices arranged inconnection with the lifting arms. When a load of bricks of this kind istransported and then set down again the basic layer rests upon theground or floor and upholds the superincumbent mass without imprisoningthe lifting arms and hence the latter can easily be withdrawn so as tobe set free from the mass of bricks, and the gripping devices can alsobe set free, the original stacking thus being undisturbed by thetransportation. 7

The present invention consists essentially in novel and ingeniousdevices for gripping or clamping the members of the basic layer of sucha bulk or mass of bricks; and especially in gripping means which areautomatically adjustable to irregularities in the surface andunevennesses in the thickness or other dimensions of the bricks, inorder that the clamping may be tight and effective even though thebricks vary slightly in one or more of their dimensions, as theyordinarily do in the manufacture; and also the invention embracesnumerous details and peculiarities in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts substantially as will be hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is afront elevation of the entire machine. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view ofthe bottom clamping mechanism with the vertical frame removed. Fig. 3is. a side elevation in partial section. Fig. 4. is a perspective viewof one of the lifting arms and the movable clamping plate arranged inconnection therewith. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view on theline 5, 5 of Fig. 4, a part of the view being in elevation.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe different figures of the drawings.

In Fig. 3 I have shown in dotted lines a stack of bricks with which mypresent improved brick handling machine is designed to operate. Thebricks of the stack are piled so that the members of the basic layer arespaced apart a uniform distance, say, about one inch. Into the severalspaces between the members of the basic layer project a series oflifting arms 25, which consists, if desired, of vertical plates havingat the rear end an angular part 29 which is securely bolted by means 'ofbolts 26 to the base bar 5 of the main frame of the machine. The seriesof projecting lifting arms 25 is clearly shown in Fig. 2, and the mannerin which they are extended between the members of the basic layer so asto act under the superincumbent mass is fully indicated in Fig. 3.

The vertical main frame of the machine to which belongs the base bar 5that carries the horizontal lifting arms 25 may be built in a greatvariety of ways, and I reserve the liberty of modifying the same withinwide limits. The specimen thereof shown in the drawings and which isfound to be useful and sutlicient for the purpose comprises essentiallytwo inclined bars 1, 1, a central vertical bar 2 to which the inclinedbars are bolted near their upper ends, vertical straps 6, 6 which arebolted to the inclined bars 1, 1,

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

7 used to manipulate the machine in moving 1t about. At the apex of thetriangular frame thus constructed there is a short lever or pair oflevers 9 pivoted upon a horizontal bolt 8 which passes through the upperend of the frame. This lever 9 is provided on its long end with an eye10 pivoted thereto by means of a bolt 11, said eye 10 being for thepurpose of receiving the lifting hook from a traveling crane. The otheror short end of the lever 9 is pivoted to a vertical link 12, therebeing two of these which pass downwardly alongside of the main frame andare designed to operate as thrust bars. The lower ends of the links 12are pivoted to the inner arms of two elbow levers 13, which arefulcrumed upon bolts 14, passing through the cross bar 3 and also thevertical straps (3 hereinabove alluded to. The lower members of theelbow levers 13 are provided with eye-bolts 15 to which are connectedthe opposite ends of a horizontal spiral tension spring 16. At a pointbetween the fulcrum 11- of each one of the elbow levers 13 and itseye-bolt 15, there is pivotally connected a short vertical lifting rod17. The two lifting rods 17 are bolted to a lift bar 18 and operate tolift the latter when the machine in operation. The lifting strain on thebar 18 is applied to a series of coiled springs 19 which surroundvertical stems 20 and hear at their upper ends against washers and nuts21 on said stems 20. The stems 20 obviously pass downwardly through thebar 18. A handle bar 235 is attached to the front of the frame to assistin manipulating the machine.

The lower ends of the various stems 20 which project downwardly throughthe lift bar 18 are pivotally connected to the upper arms of smallbell-crank levers 2;) which are fulcrumed on a horizontal rod 22supported in suitable hearings on the side of the base bar 5, and thedownwardly projecting arms of these bell-crank levers 23 are pivotallyconnected to the ends of horizontal links 2% whose opposite ends arepivoted to rightangled levers 2'? which are pivotally supported by meansof pivot pins 28 on the sides of the series of lifting arms 25 (seeFigs. 3 and 4). The elbow levers 27 have one arm 2? running alongsidethe vertical face centrally of the lifting arm or plate and working inan opening therein, as indicated in Fig. 5. Alongside of each of thelifting plates 25 is a clamping plate 30 consisting of a thin piece ofmetal cut away centrally, and the cut away portions 83 above and belowbeing secured to the arm 27 by means of a pin 31. By rocking the elbowlever 27 on its pivot 28, the clamping plate 30 is moved bodily towardor away from the adjoining face of the lifting plate :25, or in otherwords, it is transferred from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5to that shown in dotted lines, and then back again to the position shownin full lines. When itis moved away from the lifting plate to theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, it is caused to clamp tightlyagainst the adjacent brick and to cause said brick to be securelygripped between it and the vertical face of the relatively fixed liftingplate on the other side of the brick. It is to be noted, furthermore,that inasmuch as the clamping plate 30 is pivotally supported at itsmiddle point on the movable arm 27 of the elbow lever, the two ends ofsuch clamping plate 30 will be free to adjust themselves incorrespondence with the surface of the brick with which said clampingplate is in contact.

lVhile the pressure which actuates the clamping plate is applied theretoat its central point, where it is pivoted to the arm 27 the clampingplate is carried laterally against the brick, and as the two ends areonly actuated as the result of the carrying of the central. portion ofthe clamping plate, it is quite obvious that any variation in thethickness of the brick betw-en its ends or any irregularity in itssurface, consisting of some slight protuberance or defective molding,will be compensated for by the facility with which the centrally-hi ingclamping plate will adjust itself when applied to the side of the brick.This action is of a yielding or elastic nature, and is found to begreatly superior to the use of a clamping plate which has no flexibilityand which is carried rigidly its entire length against the side of thebrick. In av case where the face of the movable clamping plate isabsolutely parallel to the face of the cooperating lifting or clampingplate on the other side of the brick, and this parallelism ismaintained. at all. times during the lateral clamping movement, therewill be no possibility of adjustment so that the grip on a brick whichvaries slightly in thickness between its ends can be held withsu'l'licientfirmness to enable the machine to perform its properfunction. 1t often happens that brick vary a trifle, being a littlethicker at one end than at the other, or having some unevenness at somepoint, which would cause the brick to slip in case the clamp onlygripped it tightly at a single point and not throughout its entirelength; but with my yielding clamping plate which is self-regulativebetween its ends, so that it can apply its pressure centrally withfirmness, and at the ends with the flexible action specified, I amenabled to provide that all the bricks whether regularly or unevenlymolded shall be fixedly gripped and held so that the basic layer willnot fail to have all its members lifted as a unit along with thesuperincumbent mass when the lifting plates 25 exert their liftingstrain on said mass.

It will thus be seen that when the machine is applied to a stack ofbricks whose basic layer is spaced apart, as I have already hereinaboveindicated, the series of laterally extended vertical bars or plates 25which act as lifting fingers will be inserted be tween the bricks of thebasic layer and will be in contact with the bricks above the basic layerso that when the apparatus is lifted the superposed weight of the bricksabove will be lifted; and also that simultaneously with the lifting ofthe weight of the superincumbent mass by means of the laterally extendedplates 25 the clamping plates 30 will be expanded against the adjacentbricks of the basic layer, clamping said bricks in the manner alreadyspecified, so that in this way the bricks of the basic layer are pinchedand held suiiiciently tight to maintain the unity of this basic layerand to allow it to be lifted simultaneously with the superposed bricks.Hence the whole bulk, including the basic layer, is transported intact.The initial lifting movement is thus transmitted through the stems 20 tothe bell-crank levers 23, links 2% and the elbow levers 27 to thelaterally-movable clamping plates 80. When the apparatus is lifted, theinner ends of the elbow levers 13 are thrown down by the thrust links12, thereby spreading the spring 16 which acts as a balancing device,and pulling upwardly the lifting rods 17 which lift the bar 18 andcompress the several springs 19, thus yieldingly imparting liftingmovement to the several stems 20. Thus the coiled springs 19, interposedas they are in the movement of the train of levers, exercise animportant function in that they provide an elastic action for eachclamping plate 30 and permit every clamping plate to expand to the fullsize of the space existing between the bricks of the basic layer,independently of every other device of the kind in the series, and atthe same time inasmuch as the clamping plate 30 is centrally hung, aspreviously explained, a compensatory mechanism is provided for theunevennesses and inequalities of the thickness of the bricks. Hence Iinsure that all the bricks of the basic layer shall be uniformly clampedand held so that the integrity of the basic layer as a unit may bemaintained in the lifting process.

Many changes and variations in the exact construction and arrangement ofthe various parts may be made without exceeding the legitimate scope ofmy invention, and I reserve the liberty of modifying the same as may befound necessary in practice.

*Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a main frame, projectingarms thereon, clamps movable independently of and substantially parallelto said arms, and means for automatically varying the clamping action ofthe said clamps at their ends.

2. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a main frame, projectingarms thereon, clamps movable independently of and substantially parallelto said arms, and means for automatically varying the clamping action ofthe said clamps at their ends, said means including a support pivoted tothe clamps between their ends.

3. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a main frame, lifting armsthereon, clamps movable with respect to said arms, a support for each ofsaid clamps pivoted thereto at a single point, and means for actuatingsaid support for the purpose of causing the clamps to exert theirclamping effect.

4. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a main frame, lifting armsthereon, clamps having a bodily movement with respect to said arms,pivotal supports for each of said clamps, actuating mechanism for theclamps, and elastic devices to compensate for variations in the spacesbetween the bricks.

A machine for handling bricks, comprising a main frame, projecting armson the lower end of said frame, clamps movable independent of andsubstantially parallel to said arms so as to have a bodily movement withrespect to said arms, means for supporting each clamp pivotally at apoint between its ends so that the said ends may be automaticallyvariable in their clamping action, mechanism for actuating the clamps,and individual elastic devices interposed in said mechanism tocompensate for variations in the spaces between the bricks.

6. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a main frame, lifting armsthereon, clamps alongside of said arms and inclependent thereof, andmeans supporting said clamps so that they may be movable with respect tosaid arms and may automatically vary the clamping action at the ends tocompensate for inequalities in the bricks.

- 7. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a main frame, liftingarms thereon, clamps movable independently of and substantially parallelto said arms, and supporting and actuating means pivotally applied at asingle point to said clamps.

8. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a frame and a plurality ofpairs of clamping members, one member of each pair &

being hung pivotally alongside of and independent of its companion, andmeans for spreading them apart during the clampirfg action and causingthem to apply their ends differentially to compensate for inequalitiesin the bricks.

9. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a frame and a plurality ofpairs of clamping members, one member of each pair being hung pivotallyalongside of and independent of its companion, and means for spreadingthem apart during the clamping action and causing them to apply theirends differentially to compensate for inequalities in the bricks, saidmeans including elastic devices to compensate for variations in thespaces between the bricks.

10. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a frame, a plurality oflifting arms at the lower end adapted to be inserted between adjacentbricks of a stack, and clamps laterally movable with respect to saidarms, said clamps being pivotally supported at a single point betweentheir ends, mechanism for actuating the clamps, and individual yieldingdevices interposed in said mechanism to compensate for variations in thespaces between the bricks.

11. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a frame, a plurality ofpairs of members adapted to be inserted between adjacent bricks of astack, means for pivotally supporting one member of each pair betweenits ends and spreading it relatively to the other, and a springmechanism for com pensating for variations in the spaces between thebricks.

12. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a frame having a pluralityof pairs of members adapted to be inserted between adjacent bricks of astack, means for pivotally supporting one member of each pair at a pointbetween its ends so that the ends of the member may be free to adjustthemselves to the brick while the member itself is bodily movableindependently of and substantially parallel to its companion, and meansfor operating said spreading member when the lifting strain is appliedto the machine 13. A machine for handling bricks, consisting of a frame,a plurality of pairs of members adapted to be inserted between adjacentbricks of a stack, one of said members of each pair having a lateralclamping movement substantially parallel to its companion and asecondary transverse move ment, means for supporting said clampingmembers so that they may perform both movements as required, whereby thebricks may be clamped and inequalities compensated for.

14. A machine for handling bricks, consisting of a vertical frame, aseries of laterally extended arms thereon adapted to be inserted betweenthe adjacent bricks of a stack, a movable clamp alongside of each arm,said clamp being pivoted at the center, and means whereby the liftingstrain on the machine is applied to the pivotal point on each clamp tomove the latter.

15. A machine for handling bricks, consisting of a vertically disposedframe, laterally projected pairs of members carried by the lower end ofsaid frame, one member of each pair being pivotally hung between itsends so that the latter may be free to adjust themselves, and means formoving said pivoted members relatively to the others.

16. In a machine for handling brick, the combination of a verticallydisposed frame, laterally extended lifting arms carried by the lower endof said frame, expansible clamping plates alongside said laterallyextended arms, elbow levers pivoted to said clamping plates-at pointsbetween the ends of the latter, and mechanism for actuating said elbowlevers, individual elastic devices being interposed in said mechanism tocom pensate for variations in the spaces between the bricks.

17 In a machine for handling bricks, the combination of a verticallydisposed frame, laterally extended lifting arms carried by the lower endof said frame, clamping plates alongside said arms, levers pivoted tosaid clamping plates at points between their ends, and means foractuating said levers for the purpose of causing the clamping plates toact against the bricks.

18. In a machine for handling bricks, the combination of avertically-disposed frame having a lever device at the top and below itnear the bottom a series of lifting bars, clamping plates arranged inconnection with said bars, means for supporting said plates at a singlepoint, and intermediate mecha nism between said clampsupporting meansand the lever at the top of the frame whereby the initial. liftingmovement on the frame results in the application of the clamps to thebricks.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

l/VILLIAM H. FRANCIS.

WVitnesses:

D. H. Hicks, W. L. BUOKLES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

